Army's Santiago, Schurr, White all still in hunt for QB gig

WEST POINT — First-year Army coach Jeff Monken couldn't believe his team had completed one-third of their spring practices after Wednesday's session ended.

Sal Interdonato

WEST POINT — First-year Army coach Jeff Monken couldn't believe his team had completed one-third of their spring practices after Wednesday's session ended.

With five practices finished, Monken isn't ready to name a top quarterback yet.

When asked about the quarterback situation, Monken didn't say any player by name. But when junior Angel Santiago and sophomores A.J. Schurr and Kelvin White were mentioned, the coach did acknowledge the three have separated themselves from the competition.

"Those guys are the most veteran guys we got," Monken said. "I don't know if I can sort them out right now. But I know this, we will line up with one when we play. I don't know which one it will be."

Santiago started Army's first 11 games last season and led the team with 10 rushing touchdowns. Schurr scored four touchdowns in the second half of a 49-42 loss to Hawaii late last season. White played in six games as a reserve in 2013.

Santiago has lined up with the first team through most of spring practice.

Last season's numbers and play don't factor much in Monken's evaluation. The quarterbacks are still learning the coach's version of the triple-option offense.

"They are all working hard," Monken said. "They are trying. The terminology is different. Some of things with the zone stuff we are doing is different. Those guys are the guys I think right now are one, two and three."

In no particular order.

Monken called for a kicker following a scrimmage-like practice on Wednesday. The kicker jogged onto the field without full pads and was sent to the sideline. Monken asked for another kicker in full pads and only one ran onto the field. The coach told the rest of the special teams to go to the locker room and come back in full pads.

After the period, Monken asked the special-teams group why they thought it was all right to not wear full pads during practice.

"That's what we did last year," one player said.

That's not the answer Monken wanted to hear. Kickers and punters stayed after practice. Monken told them to drop to the turf and roll across most of the field in full pads.

"I want everybody to pay attention to all the little things, every detail, and that's a little detail," Monken said. "When you take the field and you are not properly equipped, you are not allowed to play and it's a penalty on the team. So come out to practice appropriately in the dress of the day, that's easy to do. Just do it right. It wasn't just them, there were some other guys."